Brandeis University (Waltham, MA)

Located in the suburbs of Boston, Brandeis is a small (3300 students) research university that offers a unique niche between the small liberal arts college and the larger research university. It is a young institution, founded in 1948 to provide a top-notch universe for minority groups that were suffering from the quota system in place at Ivy League and other universities. A number of prominent Jewish figures were associated with its founding, including Albert Einstein, and Jewish students made up a majority of the students for many years. While that influence is still felt, Brandeis is today a diverse institution that attracts students from around the country and around the world (15% international from 86 countries). What these students usually share is Brandeis' mission of social justice, an idealistic mindset and support for volunteerism. Majors range from traditional liberal arts disciplines to unique programs like investigative journalism (one of only three in the country) and film/television/media analysis. 55% of students study abroad and Brandeis leads the nation in sending students outside of Western Europe. Most students live on campus, including in one of the dorms that is a real-life castle (see pictures). Students don't miss a Greek system, since there are 260 clubs on campus, including skydiving and quidditch, and Boston is only a short commuter train ride away. Waltham itself is a restaurant center of the Boston suburbs. Students considering small-medium sized universities like Vanderbilt or Emory should definitely take a peek at Brandeis. K